Mid Sussex

Mid Sussex's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Mid Sussex increased by 9.8%, from about 127,000 to 140,000.

The addition of about 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Mid Sussex was home to, on average, 3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Mid Sussex

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Mid Sussex increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 12% of people in Mid Sussex are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Mid Sussex by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Mid Sussex

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Mid Sussex, but at a slower rate than in Brighton and Hove (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Mid Sussex).

In Mid Sussex, the proportion of single people increased from 25% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Brighton and Hove increased from 43% to 50%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Mid Sussex fell from 58% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.6% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Mid Sussex residents that were studying remained close to 2.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of Mid Sussex residents that were unemployed increased from 1.6% to 2.4%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Mid Sussex

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 27% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 27% in 2001

The number of people in Mid Sussex that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 20,000 in 2001 to just over 37,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Mid Sussex that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 97,000 in 2001 to just under 88,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 8,700 to about 11,000 (from 6.8% to 7.9%).

Just over 1,100 people (0.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 780 in 2001 (0.8%).

The population without a religion in Mid Sussex increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Mid Sussex by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Mid Sussex

The percentage of Mid Sussex residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 1.9% in 2001. The percentage of Mid Sussex residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.6% to 7.4%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 91% in 2001 to 90% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Mid Sussex

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 95% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 95% in 2001

The number of people in Mid Sussex from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 120,000 in 2001 to just over 130,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 95%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Mid Sussex from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 1,500 in 2001 to just under 3,800 in 2011 (from 1.2% to 2.7%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,100 to just under 2,000 (from 0.9% to 1.4%).

About 790 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 340 in 2001 (0.6%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Mid Sussex decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Mid Sussex by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Mid Sussex, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Mid Sussex, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.6% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Mid Sussex increased from 10% to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 80% to 74%.

Private renting in Mid Sussex increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Mid Sussex, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Mid Sussex residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.9% to 3.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Mid Sussex residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Mid Sussex decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Mid Sussex, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Mid Sussex working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Mid Sussex decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Mid Sussex, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Mid Sussex, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.9% to 7.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (40%) households had a married couple, compared with 44% in 2001. The percentage of households in Mid Sussex, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.8% to 9.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Mid Sussex with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.0% to 9.9% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 30%, while the percentage of households in Mid Sussex without children decreased from 61% to 60%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Mid Sussex residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.7% to 0.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Mid Sussex remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Mid Sussex by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links